They both can be walked but along dangerous roads with little or no shoulders, so only for those willing to risk it, thanks john

Yes, its been awhile, what would you like to see or have me cover? My videos are pretty dry and unprofessional but I can get them done fast. I plan to put more of an effort into producing the videos this year. Thanks john

Yes, the corp can be difficult and unhelpful but it depends on who you get. Once in a while you can get help but they make it clear its not their job, they just run the dams, but can provide some helpful contacts for paddlers to call. I'm hoping more paddlers will force them to provide a solution in the future. thanks john

@@columbiariverpaddlers9887 I understand about the dam operators. What about the lock tenders? What was your experience with them and going through the locks?

@@kevincasey2947 Everyone followed the rules whether in BC or US so it did not matter who you talked to. There is only one dam on the main stem of the Columbia that allows kayakers to go through unassisted and that's Keenlyside in British COlumbia operated by BC Hydro. You paddle up to the lock, pick up the phone, talk to the operator and wait your turn. He was very nice and even wished me luck with a goodbye wave. THe army corp is different. You do not talk to any lock tenders. THe only help I received in transitioning the 4 lowest dams on the Columbia was that they gave me the phone number of the park and recreation that operated the campground at Cascade Dam and they gave me a power boat assist to get through the dam. I hope that someday this will change with the Corp. John

Thanks for your helpful message. john

yes, in addition completed Kootenay, Pend Oreille, source to columbia and starting on the snake source to columbia soon, thanks john

@@olympicoutdoorcenter awesome looking forward to them

You can paddle any of the large lakes without much trouble, just below the dams the water is swift and really you could not paddle against the current there, and then below bonneville the current picks up for 150 miles to the coast, that would be hard to paddle against for a long period, good luck, john

Typically 2-3 mph current, ave 2.5mph. But depends on dam releases and seasonal flow. Tide is only 2' at Portland, you almost never notice that due to dam releases. Those can raise water 4-6 ' pretty quickly.

Thanks again!

No, none of these 6 dams have locks so its portage around. There are 14 dams on the main stem of the Columbia from Canada to the Pacific, only 5 have locks and only 1 allows a paddler to go through the lock unattended and that's Keenleyside in Canada, the rest require a power boat assist. THanks

Only Keenleyside without a power boat assist, sorry for the delay

Bob, First you can not paddle past the border on the Columbia even though it is right there. They will not come to you to process you thru, So they force you to go thru the check station. The check station is on a hill which makes it physically tough to get there using a kayak cart. Second the pend oreille river joins the Columbia at the border making getting out closer very difficult unless you are an excellent paddler and can make the eddy and if you make that you have a steep hill to get all your gear to the road. I chose the longer yet more gradual incline of the road farther up the river. Some paddlers chance it by just not checking in and paddle past the border hoping that they will not catch them. Which in retrospect I may have chosen if I had known how difficult it is. If I did it again and could not get a shuttle this may be my choice. Once thru the border station there is another tough 3 or so miles of rolling road to get to Black Sand Beach. There maybe a short cut to the river somewhere on the route but I could not find it. Your best bet is to get a trail angel (shuttle help) from Trail but the problem is that raises red flags with the border patrol which is why most people don't want to help. Also hitch hiking on the road is also not reasonable since people don't want to take a stranger thru either. As you see I did it but I spent the next 2 days recuperating at Black Sand Beach before I could continue. Thanks Great Question John

Thanks!!